Flue cleaner



Jan. 7, 1936. E. w. JAco'BsoN FLUE CLEANER Fild Dec. 17,

1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l (YT/E17 U! [77% W r/aaason g WM .5

Jan 7, 1936. E. w. JACOBSYON FLUE CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed. Deg

Patented Jan. 7, 1936 FLUE CLEANER Erik w. Jacobson, Chicago, n1., assignor of onehalf to Carl F. Nelson, Chicago, 111.

Application December 17, 1934, Serial No. 757,746

4 Claims.

5 An object of the present invention is to provide a flue cleaning tool which is efiicient in use and which may be economically manufactured to sell atreasonable prices.

' Anotherobject of the present invention is to provide aflue cleaning tool blade of novel construction.

A further object of thepresent invention is to provide a novel manner of mounting spring cleaning blades on a flue cleaning tool whereby the blades may be flexed in use without likelihood of breaking in service.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a flue cleaning tool having a plurality of blades adapted to flex in use, with means affording bearing surfaces for the blades in spaced relation to the tool stem so that the blades may flex without danger of breaking.

The above, other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the fol- 'lowinggdescription, accompanying drawings, and

with the cleaner therein inserted, and taken sub-- stantially in the plane of line II-II of Figure 1. Figure 3 is alongitudinal sectional view of a fragmental portion of a tube or flue showing the cleaner of the present invention in place, with the cleaner being shown in section.

Figure 4 is an axial section through some of the blades of the cleaner of the present invention, and showing a modification of the manner of mounting the blades in place, a fragmental por- I tion of the stem being shown as cylindrical.

Figure 5 is an end view of the arrangement of Figure 4, looking at the right-hand end thereof, and showing the blade in fragmentary form.

Figure 6 is a view of another form of blade.

The drawings will now be explained.

The flue cleaner illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3 includes a stem I, of polygonal cross-section, it being shown as hexagonal in section, for convenience. The ends of the stem I are threaded at 2 and 3.

56 A handle 4 is suitably attached to a rod 5,

the remote end of which is threaded at 6 for threaded engagement with a threaded opening I in the end of a cylindrical block 8. The block 8 is also provided with a threaded opening 9 to receive the threaded end;3 of the stem I.

A pluralityof cleaner blades A are provided which blades are made preferably of watch spring stock and are blanked into substantially H-shape, thus forming legs I0, II, I2,,and I3, and a bridge or hub portion I4. The bridge portion I4 is centrally apertured to conform to and fit over the stem I. Where the stem is of polygonal form, such as hexagonal, the aperture in the blades will be hexagonal, asmay be observed in Figure 2. When the stem is of some other shape, then the aperture in the blades will be correspondingly shaped. It will be observed that the legs III and I 3 are parallel to a center line drawn through the axis of the blades and lie on one side of such center liner, while the legs I I and I2 are parallel to said center line on the opposite side of the same. Legs It] and I2 extend in opposite directions from the hub of the blades and parallel to and on opposite sides of such center line. In like manner legs II and I3 extend in opposite directions from the hub, on opposite sides of the same center line, and parallel to it.

At each end of the stem I are provided dished end members I5 and I6, which are centrally apertured to be applied over the threaded ends 2 and 3 of the stem and are arranged on the stem as opening towards each other, as may be observed in Figures 1 and 3-. I

In order to axially space the several blades along the stem I, .there are provided a plurality of cup members B. The cup members B are centrally apertured so as to be applied over the stem I and the margins of the cup are preferably outwardly flanged to provide flanges I'I. Preferably the margins of the flanges I! are bent backwardly a slight amount so that the legs ofthe several cleaning members A may flex, without being broken, and also for providing slightly curved surface engagement between the cups and the blades.

There aretwo of these cup members B per blade, the members B being arranged opening towards each other with the margins thereof in contact with the opposite faces of a blade. This construction affords, when the parts are assembled into a .flue cleaning tool, bearing surfaces for the blades spaced radially outwardly from the stem so that the blades may flex in service without breaking.

The several blades and cup members B are assembled on the stem, from the right-hand end, as observed in Figures 1 and 3.

Initially, the rod 5 is screwed into the block 8 and the block 8 screwed onto the end C of the stem I. There is then applied one of the end cup members I5 which is moved along the stem into abutment with the block 8. Then a sufiicient number of the cup members B are applied so as to space the nearest blade A a sufficient distance from the end member I 5 to enable the legs of the blade to flex without contacting the end member. Figure 3 illustrates three such cup members between the end member I5 and the cup members in contact with the first blade A.

To install the first blade A, the cup member I8 is applied against the adjacent spacer cup member B; the blade A is then applied over the stem, from the right-hand end thereof; and its other cup member E9 applied along the stem and against the blade A. The cup members I8 and I9 are applied so as to be open toward the blade A to afford bearing surface for the blade radially spaced from the stem. In this fashion the additional bladesv are applied to the stem, with two cup members per blade, and after the final blade is installed, in the manner described, a sumcient number of the cup members B is then applied over the free end of the stem to enable application of the end member I6 over the threaded end 2 of the stem, and then a washer is applied over the threaded end 2 of the stem against the.

end member I6 and a nut 2I is tightened against the washer, thus exerting axial pressure against all of the cup members 13 and the blades A to retain the blades in operative position on the stem. The nut 2| may be castellated for the purpose of receiving a cotter pin to prevent the nut from working off the threaded end 2 in service.

Where the stem I is of hexagonal shape, the hexagonal apertures in the various blades are so punched as to cause the successive blades to lie at substantially 15 with respect to adjacent blades. That is to say, the blades are arranged spirally along the stem I.

The extremities of the legs Ill, II, I2, and I3 are arcuate, as may be observed from Figure 2. The lengths of the several blades are preferably greater than the diameter of a flue tube to be cleaned so that the blades may flex or bend when engage against the inner wall surface of the flue,

or the incrustations thereon, resulting in twisting of the legs.

The flue cleaner may be given forward and backward movement, throughout the extent of the length or extent of the flue or tube, and the plow action of the blades against the encrusted matter quickly loosens such matter and removes it from the flue. It has been found that tubes or flues may be adequately cleaned, using the cleaner of the present invention, by. simple forward and backward movement of the cleaner,

without-rotating ,or oscillating 'it' in the tubes.

However, the construction of the cleaner is such that it may be oscillated if desired.

The provision of the end members I5 and I6 prevents damage to the adjacent cup members B, and the end member I6, at the entering end of the tool, serves to center the tool in an encrusted tube or flue.

A tube cleaner of the present invention, is susceptible of manufacture with a stem which is cylindrical instead of polygonal, in crosssection.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a cylindrical stem, 22 with cup members C formed, in the main, as the cup members B. However, the cup members C have certain ones provided with recesses or holes 23 and others with knobs or projections 24. The cup members C are adapted to be assembled along the shaft 22 by engaging the projections or knobs 24 of the cups on similar sides of the blade A with the holes or recesses 23 of adjacent members on opposite sides of the blades, thus interlocking the several cup members together againstrelative rotation, when the nut H onthe stem is tightened to exert endwise or axial pressure against the several cups.

As one means for preventing relative rotation between the blades A and the cups C, certain of the cups are provided with notches 25 and with tongues 26 formed at diametrically opposite points. from the notches. Thus-when two cups are brought together against the opposite faces of a blade, the tongues 26 may be bent into the notches 25 of the co -operating cup memberto lock-the blade and cups against relative rotative movement. tongues 26 pass through thespace between the legs Ill, II, I2, and I3 respectively, as may be observed in Figures 4 and 5. In this manner, relative rotative movement'between the blades A and the cups C is prevented. Thus when-the cups C are assembled. along a cylindrical shaft 22, and the nut 2| tightened, the cupsand the blades are prevented from. relative rotation with respect to one another and also with respect-to the stem 22.

The form of blade D illustrated in-Figure-G is made ofthe same material as the blades heretofore described, but is of modified Z shape. This blade has a central or hub portion 26 and two legs 21 and 28 extending in opposite directions from the portion 26 and lying on opposite sides of a center line parallel to the legs. The portion 26 has an aperture 29 to conform to the stem of the cleaning tool. Blades!) of this form are arranged on the stem inthe same manner as described with reference to blades A.

The blades have been described as spirally disposed along the stem in relative angular relation of 15. This angular relationship may of course be varied as conditions warrant.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the cupsC and blades A may be rotatively arranged with respect to the stem 22, by simply applying the nut 2I loosely against the end member I6. Means could be provided for their oscillating the cup C and blades A without oscillating. the stem, after the tool had been inserted in a dirty flue or tube.

The invention has been described herein more or less precisely as to details, yet it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby, as changes maybe made in the arrangement and proportion of parts, and

The parts are so fashioned that theequivalents may be .substituted, withoutzdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The inventionis claimed as follows:

1. A flue cleaning tool comprising a stem, a plurality of spring steel blades along said stem arranged in axially and angularly spaced relation one to another, cup members arranged in pairs against opposite faces of a blade for spacing the blades axially and affording bearing engagement therewith radially outwardly of the stem, the two cup members per blade opening toward the blade with the margins of .the cups against the blades, said cup margins having outwardly directed flanges with the flanges slightly curved in axial section providing bending surfaces for the blades and with the free marginsof the flanges spaced from the blades to permit flexing of the blade legs in use.

2. A flue cleaning tool comprising a stem, a pair of cup members on said stem arranged opening towards each other, a thin spring metal blade of H shape between said members, means exerting axial pressure against said members to clamp them to said blade to retain the blade in working position, the contact of the margins of said members with said blade afiording bearing for said blade radially outwardly of the stem, and the legs of the blade outwardly of said members being adapted to flex in use.

3. A flue cleaning tool comprising a stem, a pair of cup members on said stem arranged opening towards each other, a thin spring metal blade of H shape between said members, means exerting axial pressure against said members to 5 clamp them to said blade to retain the blade in working position, the contact of the margins of said members with said blade afiording bearing for said blade radially outwardly of the stem, the legs of the blade outwardly of said members being adapted to flex in use, and means for interlccking said blade and members together to prevent relative rotative movement.

4. A flue cleaning tool comprising a stem, a plurality of thin spring metal blades of H shape on said stem, a pair of cup members per blade arranged opening towards the blade and with their margins against opposite faces of the blade for spacing said blades axially along said stem and affording bearing for the legs of the blades adjacent the bridge portions thereof and radially outwardly of the stem, the cup members spacing adjacent blades having inter-engaging means for preventing relative rotative movement of the cup in use, and the two cups engaging a blade having cooperating parts to prevent relative rotative movement between the cups and the blade.

ERIK W. JACOBSON. 

